February Community Newsletter
Important Dates
2/17: President's Day Holiday
2/19: LCAP Engagement Session (virtual, click here for link)
2/20: LCAP Engagement Session at District Office
2/24: Coffee Chat at Altimira with Principal Snow
3/3: Trustee Bell Office Hours at Sassarini Elementary School
3/3: Trustee Ching Office Hours at Prestwood Elementary School
3/3: Special Education Parent Connection Meeting
3/3: SVUSD Board Study Session
3/3: Trustee Lehman Office Hours at El Verano Elementary School
3/6: Altimira Tour & Info Session
3/12: Coffee Chat at Altimira with Principal Snow
3/13: SVUSD Regular Board Meeting
3/17-21: Conference Week Grades TK-8 |
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Message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well. As we embark on our journey toward educational excellence, I want to share some important updates regarding our vision for student success and the support systems in place under the California Accountability System.
Visioning for a Brighter Future
Our district is committed to fostering an environment where every student can thrive. We have engaged in a collaborative visioning process, bringing together educators, students, parents, and community stakeholders to shape the future of our schools. Our focus is on ensuring access and opportunities to a variety of learning experiences, enhancing student engagement, and preparing all learners for success beyond the classroom. You can find out more about our Vision 2036 on our webpage. We will also soon begin developing a 5 year Strategic Plan for SVUSD that includes specific goals and actions. We want to ensure we hear from our stakeholders and we will be sending out surveys to gather ideas about what our families want to see in our schools in the upcoming years. Your input is invaluable, and we encourage you to participate in upcoming discussions and surveys.
Differentiated Assistance: Targeted Support for Growth
As part of the California Accountability System, our district has been identified as needing additional support, known as Differentiated Assistance. The Sonoma County Office of Education will be partnering with us as we examine our organization’s strengths and challenges. This initiative helps us address specific challenges by analyzing student performance data and implementing strategies that drive improvement. The goal is to ensure every student receives the support they need to succeed, whether through professional development for educators, curriculum enhancements, or expanded student services.We will also be intentional about going connecting this process with other improvement efforts we have underway, including our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and Special Education Action Plan.
We acknowledge the many changes occurring within our district and recognize the broader impact of state and federal developments. Our priority is to address local challenges while remaining proactive in response to external demands. With determination and optimism, we strive to make continuous improvements that foster a district we can all take pride in. The role parents play in this process is vital. By staying informed and engaged, you contribute to the success of our students and schools. Please look out for upcoming meetings, workshops, and engagement opportunities where your voice can help shape our path forward.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in creating a thriving educational environment for all students.
Warm regards,
Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien, Superintendent
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Congratulations to Kelly Kriss for being chosen as ACSA Region 4
Middle Grades Principal of the Year!
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Spotlight on our Amazing Students! Lifesaving Action at SVHS Lifeguard Training
On Sunday, January 12th, during a lifeguard in-service training, one of the Sonoma Splash adult lifeguards collapsed on the bleachers. The team of lifeguards, many of whom are current or former SVHS students, quickly sprang into action to save his life. The head lifeguard performed an immediate assessment and, after confirming no pulse and agonal breathing, directed CPR while an AED (donated by the Just1Mike Foundation) was retrieved. With the AED's shock delivered and CPR continued, the lifeguard regained a pulse and consciousness before EMS arrived. He was transferred to Queen of the Valley Hospital, underwent major heart surgery, and is now recovering at home. The lifeguard is deeply grateful for the swift response of the team and the presence of the AED on-site. Though he wishes to remain unnamed, he has given permission for the team’s heroic actions to be recognized. The team was recognized at a ceremony at Sonoma Splash on February 10th! We are so proud of our students, their quick response and thankful for the team at Sonoma Splash for the wonderful training their staff receives.
School Consolidation Updates
As we continue to prepare for the transition of merging our two middle schools, we want to continue to inform our families and school community of updates. If you missed it, our first update was included in the January Newsletter. Here are some noteworthy items for this month:
Teachers from both Adele and Altimira got together to collaborate, share ideas and have fun as they come together as one team. This is one opportunity of many in which staff, students and families will come together this spring to get to know one another better and build a unified community of learners. We will hold Parent Nights on March 6th (3:45-4:30 pm) and April 16th (5-6:15 pm) where parents will have the opportunity to tour Altimira, ask questions and become familiar with the staff at Altimira. Principal Snow also has Coffee Chats scheduled for February 24 (9-10 am), March 12 (9-10 am), April 23 (4:30-5:30 pm) and May 14 (9-10 am) to provide opportunities for parents to get to know him better and ask questions. Painting and new flooring has been installed in some classrooms at Altimira. There will be ongoing work, but it is great to see many of the spaces on campus being refreshed. We have established a moving timeline for our staff to ensure they have time to finish off the year and begin the new school year without impacting the learning experiences for our students. The renaming petition process was opened at our January Board meeting. If anyone is interested in submitting a name change for the school, they must submit a petition with over 100 signatures in support of the name prior to April 4th to be considered by the Board. Students have selected elective requests and counselors are now working on pulling together master schedules for students. Electives from both schools will remain intact for the upcoming year.
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Celebrating Black History Month
This February, we celebrate Black History Month, honoring the remarkable contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. It's a time to reflect on the powerful impact that Black leaders, innovators, artists, activists, and communities have had on our society. As a school district, we encourage our students and families to learn about and celebrate the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and achievements that continue to shape our world. Let’s come together to honor this important month with respect, awareness, and a commitment to equality for all.
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Immigration Resources
The linked resource is a Guide for Students and Families on Immigration Enforcement Actions at California Schools. Available in English and Spanish, this resource includes information on the right to a free public education, school enrollment, personal information confidentiality protections and safety information for students and staff.
Additional resources can be found here.This folder contains several important resources to support our immigrant students and families. More resources will be added as they become available.
VISION 2036
On January 30, 2025 we shared with our Board SVUSD’s Graduate Portrait, Adult Portrait, System Portrait and Core Values. This was developed in collaboration with 60 Guiding Coalition members made up of students, staff, families. and community members. Together we created a long-term vision that would guide the way our school system will serve our students.
Please check out our Vision 2036 Rooted in Sonoma, Ready for the World!
Our Core Values are our guiding principles that ground our Vision:
Student-Centered
Equity and Excellence
Respect and Trust
Asset-Based
Community Voice and Collaboration
Creativity
Environmental Awareness
This Vision 2036 will serve as the foundation of our Strategic Plan. |
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School Accountability Report Card (SARC)
School Accountability Report Cards (SARC) are posted on our district website.
All schools are required to have a SARC. They is a yearly report that provides information about public schools to parents and the community.
Click here to view the SARCs Please contact your school office if you request a printed copy.
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Exciting New Courses at Sonoma Valley High School for 2025-2026! Sonoma Valley High School is excited to announce the approval of new courses for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. These courses are designed to expand students’ educational opportunities and prepare them for future careers, particularly in the healthcare field.
The courses include:
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Physical & Earth Science (1-year course, A-G approved)
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Applied Chemistry & Biotech (1-year course, A-G approved) – This course is part of the newly introduced Healthcare Pathway and is tied to grant funding.
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Nutrition (1-semester course) and Medical Terminology (1-semester course) – Taken together, these courses form a full-year offering through the CCAP (College and Career Access Pathways) program, providing both high school and college credit. These courses are taught by the Junior College faculty but held on our campus during the school day. As part of the Healthcare Pathway, these courses benefit from grant funding.
We look forward to offering these valuable courses to our students and supporting their educational and career aspirations in the healthcare industry. Stay tuned for more updates! |
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